Against the background of Chinese Leader Xi Jinping's visit to Russia and successful negotiations with Vladimir Putin, Europe decided to revise its relations with Beijing. What is the essence of such plans and what long-term consequences can they lead to? Czech President Petr Pavel said during his visit to Germany that an audit of the policy towards China is being carried out in Berlin and Prague.
According to the media, he held meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as with former German President Joachim Gauck. Relations with China have become one of the important topics of this visit. [...]
The Czech leader noted that German politicians were interested in Prague's attitude to Beijing. Also, "everyone is interested in what China's further behavior in the international arena will be," whether Beijing will support Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. In his opinion, only a unified policy of the entire democratic world will allow building relations with China as "equal with equal."
Pavel also stated the importance of unity in supporting Ukraine. He said that Scholz expressed readiness for long-term support of the country. As Pavel stressed, this "important signal" should be heard by other EU countries so that Kiev's support remains "in any development of the situation."
Recall that Chinese President Xi Jinping's three-day visit to Russia ended on Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed statements on deepening relations between the two countries. Russia and China intend to resolutely support each other in protecting fundamental interests, primarily sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and development.
Assessing the statements of the Czech president, Senator Alexei Pushkov noted: if this is a direct hint of Europe's dissatisfaction with Beijing's policy and its rapprochement with Moscow, then it can be assumed that such a hint is unlikely to significantly affect the behavior of the PRC.
"Beijing is well aware that the degree of autonomy of Europe from the United States has greatly decreased in recent years. Yes, China needs Europe as a trade and economic partner. But the current crisis has shown that even in this (limited by the economy) quality, it is unreliable, because it is ready to cut off profitable established ties for the sake of a common position with the United States, whose conflict with China is a matter of time," Pushkov told the newspaper VZGLYAD.
"Simply put, it is difficult to rely on Europe. In addition, there are constant calls for curtailing relations with China, deterring it, forming an anti-Chinese "alliance of democracies" and so on. Thus, in strategic terms, the value of Europe as an economic partner of China is undermined by its political unreliability, that is, its willingness to sacrifice economic relations to a common Western policy," the interlocutor explains.
"Russia, both by objective and subjective parameters, has all the basic features of a strategic partner and geopolitical ally for China. Just like China – for Russia," the senator stressed.
"The Europeans are clearly dissatisfied with the fact that China is taking an increasingly pro-Russian position and playing an independent role in world affairs. European countries hoped that they would be able to influence Beijing's policy by involving the Chinese in economic ties, but these hopes were not fulfilled," Stanislav Tkachenko, professor of the Department of European Studies at the Faculty of International Relations of St. Petersburg State University, an expert of the Valdai Club, said in a conversation with the newspaper VZGLYAD.
"The statements that "only a unified policy of the entire democratic world will allow building relations with China as an equal with an equal" clearly indicate the realization of the impossibility of carrying out its previous policy towards Beijing. Obviously, they are trying to come up with a new model in dialogue with China. But what exactly it should be, they don't really understand yet," he believes.
"China is pursuing its own foreign policy, and it is definitely not going to adapt to the interests of Europeans.
For example, Beijing is dealing with the issue of transferring production from Europe to its territory, and the Europeans do not like it very much. At the same time, the European market depends on Chinese goods, and Beijing depends on some Old World technologies. This is the essence of their contradictions," the source said.
"Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow was an occasion to once again talk about the audit. But it is already happening, and under pressure from the United States. Washington intends to create an integral, consolidated front not only against Russia, but also against China," said Fyodor Lukyanov, editor–in-chief of Russia in Global Politics magazine.
"On the European continent, such a policy is treated with little enthusiasm, since they, in particular Germany, have serious economic relations with Beijing. However, the political reality is taking its toll," the political scientist added in a conversation with the newspaper VZGLYAD.
"The countries of Eastern Europe, which are more focused on the United States, act as shooters of this idea. In this regard, the statement made by the President of the Czech Republic is absolutely not surprising. I think we will continue to see even more clearly the process of embedding Europe in the anti-Russian–Chinese axis, and in this context, Xi Jinping's successful visit to Moscow gives additional arguments to supporters of such tactics," he believes.
"Against this background, American pressure on the Europeans is primarily aimed at reducing economic ties with China. Including the restriction of Chinese investments in Europe and investments of European countries in the Chinese economy," the source said.
"At the same time, all this is a lot of money, so it is impossible to terminate the relationship at the same time. As for strategic objectives, the United States, of course, would like the Europeans to play a more active game in the Pacific region. However, in reality, only Germany and Britain can do this. Therefore, the United States will use Berlin and London in every possible way on this front of confrontation. The rest will be asked to limit economic cooperation with Beijing," Lukyanov predicts.
Daria Volkova
